Fall is definitely here

Well fall came like a bat out of hell. But it usually does for Wisconsin so its not a big surprise. The leaves turned all kinds of fantastic colors which makes this place a very pretty place to live for a couple weeks before the colorful leaves decide to leave their planet tree to explore the ground that is my lawn. Its not that I do not mind raking, its a normal part of this time of year when you leave in a city that has a large amount of trees, its just the amount of raking that needs to be done.
It would be nice if the trees dropped all their leaves at once like the one tree in our backyard. One day the tree will have all of its color, the next you find the leaves all decided they had had enough and commited mass suicide, leaving the tree looking like a skinny naked old man. Wow that's a visual I didn't need. Anyway the rest of the tress around here aren't so nice, in fact they are cruel. You could rake all the leaves off your lawn mid day and by night fall they will let just enough leaves go so that it looks as if you never raked.
Don't take it like I am a lawn fanatic, I am not by a long shot, just ask my buddy Jim or the Wife. I do like having the feeling of accomplishment and the trees dropping their leaves in small batches really puts the kabosh on this feeling.
Soon snow will be here and I will be cursing myself for never taking the free snowblower that doesn't work in to have it looked at.
Snow is alot like the fall leaves. You could shovel your walk free of snow and clear of ice and you turn around to put your shovel or unbroken snowblower away and find a fine layer of snow covering where you just shoveled. Guess its the price you pay for living in midwest, but I can't imagine myself living anywhere else. Its worth the price.

Just What am I missing?

OK confidence in what I do has never been my strong suit since I was a teenager. I have been doing a number of movie reviews and while they are not in depth as a Roger Ebert I hope folks find them entertaining. I could go more in depth, I can be a deep guy that is more than foreign torture movies and b-horror. So what am I missing with the movie "Girlfriend Experience".

For those of you who don't know the movie it stars Sasha Grey in her first "non porn" film. Now the fact she is a porn star and the movie is about a week in a call girl's life is not why I rented the film...ok its not TOTALLY the reason why I rented the film. I had heard a lot of good things about the movie from critic sites and it got a lot of hype at Cannes. Its a movie direct by Steven Soderbergh, the one who brought us Erin Brockovich(which I really enjoyed) and the Oceans franchise ( which I really liked the first one). It a docu film style of movie where its shot like a documentary but not a documentary which I enjoy as long as the writing is decent.
The movie scenes are shot out of order which can be a little unsettling but it does make you have to pay attention and it does give you those "A HA! so thats what happened" type of moments but on the whole I didn't think this movie was very good. All the other critics in the world seemed to disagree.
The movie definitely dates its self as the subject discussed by all of the call girl's clients is the economy . This makes sense since they are supposed to be rich guys. It is set just before the most recent election so there are alot of Obama/McCain debates discussed as well.
The problem I had with this is I have/had heard soooooooooooo many of the same damn discussions in real life that these parts of the film really turned me off to the movie. I hear enough of it during the elections and now I am getting it in the movie. Please enough.
I am all for being topical but it was monotonous in real life and it was the same in the movie.

You do really feel bad for this young girl and some of the decsions that she makes in the film but on the whole I just felt the characters were plastic and the main actress seemed bored. I know thats how her character was supposed to kind of be ...this really blocked off girl but the actress herself seemed just dulled by what she was doing.

So I will keep on keeping on and reviewing like I review, I am just wondering what I am not seeing that the critics are. Maybe its why they are the famous one I don't know.

Girlfriend experience gets one stub.

Yes folks I am crazy....but don't tell the others in my head

So I have decided to do something kind of crazy. I plan on doing 5 final cuts a week BUT they are only going to be one movie each show. This gives me a little more flexibility in time which seems to help my ADHD tendencies. Now some may ask...wow that comes to 260 movies a year to review. Yeah I got plenty I can give my opinion on so no worries about running out.

I applied to a web site to be a horror movie movie reviewer for them. It would be text which is probably why they have not contacted me back. My grammar isn't the best as most, if not all of you may have noticed so that would be my downfall. I did also link them to my youtube page which may have been a mistake. I could see them worrying about me promoting myself on their web site more than reviewing a movie, not that I would do such a thing but I could see their concerb. I am going to follow up with them but I think I know their answer if they have not contacted me so far.

Which makes me think perhaps I should put forth a bit more of an effort in lookin for sites that might want movie reviewers, video or written. Maybe look up some video contests but that means showing a little more ambition than I normally do. I just know I gotta do something.
Thats why I am going to try and stick to doing so many movie reviews a week. Practice makes perfect and it will keep me motivated to want to do more. At least thats the plan

"Ah ha!" & WOW moments and slaps to the head

So I am catching up on my episodes of the Fringe, which is by the way a show that definitely got better with age, the show is a lot different than it was when it began but that is a good thing. The last episode of the first season truely surprised me. I won't give away any details but there was a major "Ah ha!" moment and also a "Wow" moment. A moment I didn't see coming. Now I have never claimed to be the brightest bulb on string but usually I can catch where things are going but the show threw a curve. I liked it.

I will admit that 6th Sense caught me off guard, laugh all you want but I got so into the story I didn't really think about it. I have no problems admiting it. There have been many movies that I did figure out way before hand and while I enjoyed those movies I felt a little let down. Its not the movie's fault I had seen soo many movies that I was able to predict it.
Saw was another one of those movies that surprised me. Never saw the ending coming and neither did alot of my fellow movie maniacs. IT was a WOW moment.

The slap of the head comes from Hollywood thinking they could build a franchise off of these movies or the director thinking he had to do the same thing over again because it worked the first time. Why do they think that? I mean the more they repeat these formulas the more predictable they become which I think tarnishes the original.

6th sense wow'd and ahha'd people and the movie took off. M Knight I think then thought that was how he should make all his movies. The problem is it seemed forced with some of them and made them less of a movie than they could have been. The first Saw movie was very creative and ending out of no where, They developed a great character and brought horror to a different gory level but then they decided to rinse, wash, repeat with the next movies. Those sequels could have possibly been better had they not tried to be the same as the first.

Look I am not a major movie maker I know that. I have not made a major motion picture, but I got to think there has to be a better way to go about these movies. I understand doing a franchise and all that but who says the movie has to be the same as the first , course we the movie watching audience is a bit at guilt as well. We continue to pay for the movies because we hope the next movie will be something new and different. Nothing wrong with that I guess, we can always look at the money spent gives us the right to call a crap movie crap.

I just wish movie makers would look past the dollar signs once in a while.

Rediscovering the magic of the 1st Doctor.

My wife and I have begun to watch the first Doctor who's. I Have successfully converted her to a Who fan. So much in fact she did the research to find out what Dr episodes were on DVD, and when those shows original release dates were. Then updated her netflix Q accordingly.
In watching the originals it made me realize again how actually ground breaking the series was with what was done in the way of F/X writing, characters, etc. They did some cool things with the budget they had. Now while I have watched many a series of the Doctor I am still green in the way of back story for the show. The going ons as it were. I know they worked on a limited budget, very limited and I imagine they stuck with the TARDIS being a police box because it was cheaper to use the same prop then coming up with new ones every story. Now this may not have been why they kept it a Police Box but I am sure it may have had influence.

They then write this reason into the story. What I thought was most interesting is the difference in the Doctor between the Pilot and the 1st Episode. IN the Pilot he was alot harsher, meaner and just basically alot more old cranky guy. In the 1st Episode while the Doctor still had some attiude he was lighter in tone.
We have watched "The Unearthly Child" and "The Daleks" which were still badass bad guys even back then. Its funny on how consistant they have kept their shape all these years. Again unusual for a sci fi series that has gone this long. Sure they have gotten upgrades but there really is not a huge difference between the 60s and the Aughts Dalek. I like that.
We also watch by far the two weirdest episodes, at least in my opinion, that we have seen "The Edge of Distruction" two parter.
We have started to watch the Aztecs which is shaping up. It is a shame there are so many episodes missing from that time. I even sat through the half hour material they have been able to salvage of "Marco Polo" that one would have been fantastic to see in its entirety.
I look forward to watchin more as they come in.

Alas poor ....ah skip it

I am happy lately with the progress I am making with my video projects. After doing four episodes of Final cut in almost as many weeks makes me feel like I have a real project and that it is something i can keep up with. Its that damn hurdle thats always hard to get over. I have decided to just edit a whole bunch of sides before posting more or for those that may have been actually interested in the project I can send you the first final draft of the story.
I have a couple of video projects that may need to wait until next spring due to the fact they are rather involved music videos that will include props and such. Until then I keep plugging away at work and enjoy time with my family.
Turns out that I had a massive amount of vacation days left that I had to burn before the end of the year so I have planned them out. Spacing them by taking a friday and the following monday off so as to have a four day weekend and only use two days. During these days off I hope to make some progress on the video projects. I have a plan to use my time wisely. But also just have some fun veggin on games too.

Football is here

Watched the first preason Football game last night of the Pack. Yes I realize it is preseason but its almost a game for the first quarter when all or most of the starters are out. This was the case last night and I was pleased with what I saw. Our Defense did well in keeping the Browns scoreless and for the first quarter when the starters were all playing, the Offense looked to be in top form. Almost gone are the talks of Favre altogether which I am happy about. Rogers is almost completely out of the shadow of the Gunslinger in the media's eyes which should help him focus even more.
The new 3-4 Defense I think is gonna work out well. The players are still finding their feet with it but overall I like the look. They have more pressure on the QB and while guys are still getting passes completed our defenders are more on top of them before.
Granted its only game one of the preseason but if it is even a little indication of what is to come. It could be a good year.
I have rather limited myself to enjoying one sport. Its not that I feel the other sports are not worth my time, baseball has become a bit more exceiting than the past but as hard as I try, I just can't seem to get into it as much as most here. As a kid I enjoyed it alot more but then again I was born and raised in Milwaukee and in the 80's the Brewers, for a short while, were the shit. They are close to that again but unfortunately they seem to stay hot until when it really counts near the end.
IF you think figuring out the playoff schedule for NFL can get complicated, Baseball is almost worse, I think its because there are so many games played that there is a lot more opportunity to screw up.
Football...your one game away from getting into the Playoffs and you have only one game to play, no problem. Baseball, your one game from the playoffs but you have 8 games to play, alot more pressure there.
I have a lot of good memories about baseball as a kid, perhaps next year I will give it a chance again. Though thats all I need is one more distraction...ooo shiny.

Long week

So I saw in the new that the Wisconsin State Fair made national new for its...Chocolate covered Bacon...on a stick. I love it. Especially the idea of it. Unfortunately I will not make it down for that this year. In fact if has been a long while since I have been at the State Fair. Living up in cow hump Wisconsin its hard to make it down there well that and my workaholic habit. Anyway. Going to do a final cut tomorrow hopefully. And finally get to writing some more Sides. Its not that I do not like doing my projects. Its an engery factor and all.
Anyway look for some new stuff soon.

Turning over a leaf that's sort of new

I had hoped to blog last night but alas my final cut episode took up my night, as it usually does. Not that this is a bad thing. I try not to just throw something together for the sake of posting, thats probably why it takes me longer than it should to get things up on a regular basis. Mind you I am not looking to become the next internet sensation, they come and go in the night, I would like to think I am able to gain a following of steady watchers who are brave enough to watch my projects.
I posted the final cut episode last night at like midnight and by damn if it didn't have 20+ watchers when I checked it mid day. Now the Lisa Novas, or Mr. Saftey or even the chocolate rain guy may say chump change but for me...I am happy with those numbers even if no one watches it again. I know at 20 some people took the time to at least click the link lol.
I may come out with one near the end of the week. I have been watching a lot of cult and b- movies lately so I may dedicate a show to the art of the low budget film.
I am just trying to build some consistancy in my creative well creations. Its been rough at my jobs and I it helps me escape that by doing projects I want to do instead of ones I have to do.
Anyway I also want to try and cut back and lose some weight. I am getting old and my metabolism is rebelling against me. Time to suck it up and do something about it. I am thinking I may use a tape recorder and possibly toss out ideas as I work out...mind you I do not have a work plan yet but its getting there. I want to make this new month a time when I break out of my habits and create more productive habits...course there will be a day or two a vegging ..you gotta have those.
Anyway again with the rambling. Tomorrow look for more sides . Alot more.

August first and stuff to do

SIDES by Mark Krawczyk

sorry I don't have more than a couple more pages of Sides. Again Feedback is welcome.
So another month has arrived and this month for work is going to be as fraking busy as the last but whatcha gonna do.
Got to enjoy the day with some friends from Jill's side of college. It was a fun time at the park and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I unfortunately did not finish a project this week but I still have Sunday so next week I will post two. I want to do 1 a week to keep me in form on video editing and also to keep working at it to lead to the music video I want to shoot...that probably won't happen until next Spring but hopefully sooner. Lots of year left.
You know when I was in college I never pictured me being where I am at today but thats not a bad thing. In college you think you know it all....and I don't think its being college that does it, I think its just that age. Takes you a few years to realize you know nothing and that what you have done up until that point has been preperation for what is yet to come. Life is always changing and you can either be accepting to change or resistant to it. We naturally are resistant to change because it takes us out of our comfort zone but it is something that needs to happen to keep us going in life and to keep us out of the rut we usually put our selves in. I know there are some things I need to change and I plan on doing it over the next month or two. Its something that I must accept rather than resist If I want to accomplish what I want to. These next months will be interesting .

Also I have made my first of what will be many Movie reviews on the MovieMans Manic Movie Musings. Check it out if you get a chance.